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Tim and Diana Donlon are watching their grown-up children start to leave home. They think the solution could be to fly away themselves - to New Zealand.

The Donlon family from Holmfirth in Yorkshire has reached a crossroads, with dad Tim eagerly looking towards retirement and mum Diana desperate to get back to work. As their children are almost all grown up and starting out on their own, is it time for Diana and Tim to follow their long-held dream of living in New Zealand? It was their plan to move there years ago, when the couple first met at university. After graduating and getting married, they were all set to leave. But sadly Diana's father became seriously ill and the dream got put on hold. Then came the children. In a flurry - four in five years!

The practicalities of looking after so many babies and toddlers meant any move was put on the back burner - simmering for nearly 30 years! But now the New Zealand dream is very much back on track. Their two oldest children, Barney and Zac, live away from home and have settled in the UK. They have no interest in going, but the youngest two, Ophelia and Jasper, are mildly interested but will need a fair bit of convincing. They are both students, in full-time education and still dependent on mum and dad, but both are worried that any move would mean sacrificing a life and home they have grown to love in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

Can Di and Tim split up the family to follow their own dreams, or, worst case scenario, leave all of them behind in the UK to spend the rest of their days on the other side of the world without them? Tough choices ahead for the Donlons after a trial week in Wellington.

44 minutes

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:03

    The New World Orchestra

    Last of The Summer Wine (Theme)

The Donlon family update

The Donlon family are still living in the UK for the time being. Tim鈥檚 mother is unwell and the family are caring for her.

But guess who is off to New Zealand? Jasper!! During the entire trial week he didn鈥檛 want to go and now he is off to New Zealand in June for the foreseeable future! Ophelia has started her teaching career having gained her MA in Special Needs- but is looking to move abroad too!

Barney and Zac are moving closer to home to help support Tim and Diana with their grandma.


Diana is working at a local primary school part time - teaching 5 year olds and Tim continues in the field of heritage/specialist construction. 聽

The Donlons still intend to go to Wellington in the future when the time is right.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Nicki Chapman
Production Manager Joy Hines
Executive Producer Paul Connolly
Series Producer Jacqui Berkeley

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